Aeroplane.



J. W. MILLICAN.

'AEROPLANE,

APPLICATION FILED FEB-2, I916- Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2 J. w. MIL'LICAN.

AEBOPLANE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1916.

Patented Oct. 31; 1916.. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 J. W. MILLICAN'.

AEROPLANE. f APPLICATION FILED FEB-2.1916.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4 'portion and unrrn STATES T NT omen JOEL W. MILLICAN, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES E.

NORRIS, FORT WORTH, TEXAS. v

nnno'rnnnn.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916..

' Application filed February 2, 1915. Serial No. 75,724.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that .LJOEL W. MILLICAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort \Vorth, in the county of Tarrantand State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. The inventionrelates to improvements in aeroplanes.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of aeroplanes and to provide a simple, practical and efficient aeroplane of comparatively inexpensive construction equipped with a gas bag or drum of fire-proof COIlSiLIllClilOIlflClflPtBCl to enable an aeroplane to float safely and with ease andcapable of eliminating dips to the ground and of increasing the carrying capacity of the aeroplane and of enabling the machine to ride without a lon run, and readily alighting in .a comparatively small space.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an aeroplane of this character equipped with a plane having a plurality of air pockets adapted to keep the plane balanced in .the air and of thereby increasing the stability, safety and ease of handling the flying machine.

With these and other-objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, prominor details. of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan viev. of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with lZlllS invention, 2 is a detail plan view of the rear portion of the aeroplane illustrating the construction of the tail plane, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the aeroplane,

Fig.4 is adetail side elevation of the rearportion of the m n of mo ti g the t il pl t r PW aeroplane, illustratingthe trally otal movement, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the aeroplane, Fig. 6. is a side view of the gas bag or drum partly in section, Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the same, Fig.

8 is a detail view of a portion of the drum or gas bag, Fig. 9 is a-detail sectional view of one of the valves.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

V In the accompanying drawings in which.

is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the aeroplane comprises in supports a longitudinal'gas bag 4 in the form of a cylinder or drum and designed to be constructed of heavy fabric such as duck and to becovered with asbestos 501' other fireproofing material to render it fireproof and the said cylindrical gas bag which -is inflated by the means hereinafter described is divided into a series of separate chambers or compartments 6 by transverse partitions 7 so that in event of the puncture of one or more of the compartments, the gas bagwill not entirely collapse and the remaining compartments will enable the flying machine to alight with safety.

, The gas bag which is designed to extend substantially the entire length of the frame of the inachine increases the carrying capacity of the same and rendersthe machine safe and easily operated. The aeroplane by reason of the gas bag will floateasily and safely and it will be adapted when the gas bag is properly inflated to rise without a long run and by deflating one or more of the sections or compartments of the gas bag a descent and landingmay be made as gently as desired without the usual dips ordinarily required by aeroplanes to accomplish a landmg.

The gas bag is supplied with gas by a longitudinally disposed pipe 8 preferably located beneath the bottomof the gas bag and connected .with the compartments 6 cenof the bottoms thereof by branches 9 having suitableautomatic valves 10. The

sists of a valve casing tom with'a seat and having a ball 12 nor sure of the in-fiowing gas. Any other suit wardly therefrom at the .the pipe 8, the Valves will open and an even and braces 19 extending pipe 8 is provided with a central branch 11 which is designed to be Connected with a pump and when the gas is forced through of the branch pipes 9 pressure will be supplied to each of the chambers or compartments. Each of the valves preferably con provided at the botmallyarranged-upon the seat and adapted to be moved upward therefrom by the presable .valves may be employed and nuitable means will" be provided for deflating one or more of the compartments when it is desired to cause the aeroplane to descend.

. .The aeroplane is provided at the front portion above the front end of the .gas bag with a top plane13 of substantially oblong form disposed transversely of the frame and supported by suitable uprights 14 and arranged in a horizontal position when the flying machine is horizontal. The top plane 13 is provided at'opposite sides with gas pockets 15. preferably of cylindrical form constructed of heavy fabric, or other suitable material and connected by branch tubes 16 with a pipe '17 leading to the bottom gas pipe 8. The top plane which is maintained properly balanced in the air by the air pockets is designed to be covered withfire-proofing material and while a pair of gas pockets is shown, any number may of course be employed. The longitudinal gas bag is supported at its ends by hangers 18- and is maintained in proper position by over the top of the gas bag and suitably secured to the framework of the machine. I

The flying machine is provided with laterally extending side planes20 of substantially rectangular form suitably secured to the frame of the machine and extending outdrieal gas bag as clearly of the drawings.

The side size and they are designed in practice to be suitably braced and secured by stay wires or other suitable means to provide a light, rigid structure of the desired strength. At the back of .the aeroplane, preferably at opposite sides of the'gas bag are back planes 21 preferably located near the horizontal plane of the center of the gas bag and slightly above the same as shown but they may be arranged at any other desired point illustratedin Fig. 5

and they have approximately oblong front portions 21 disposed in overlapping relation with the rear portions of the side planes 20 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. -The body portions ofthe back planes taper forwardly as shown and are approximately dove-tail shape. These back P rules may be mounted and braced in any I The aeroplane is is suitably connected bottom of the cylin-' planes may be of any desired.

- suitable means for desired manner to secure the requisite rigidity and strength.

The flying machine is equipped at its rear end with a tail vane 22 provided with a substantially U-shaped frame 23 having inwardly extending pivots 24 located intermediate of the ends of the frame and mounted in suitable-bearings of the main 1 located in front ofa pilot seat 33 and adapted to be oscillated to swing the tail vane upwardly and downwardly. Any other suitable operating means may of course be employed. t 7 provided at the top in rear of the top plane 13 with-a longitudi nally disposed steering or guiding plane 34 tapered forwar'dly and provided at its front 9 and rear endswith pivots 35 and 36, the front pivot-'35 being journaled at thefront of the top plane 13 and the'rear pivot 36 being-mounted in a bearing of a supporting yoke 38but any other suitable supporting means may of cofirse be employed. The guiding plane 34 is of its ends with a depending arm 39 which with an upper horizontally swingingarm 40 of a vertical rock shaft 41 which is journaled in suitable bearings of the frame of the machine. The shaft iskprovlded at its lower end with an arm 42 which is'connected by a rod 43 with anarme l of a steering shaft 45 mounted in an upright position in advance of the pilots seat and equipped at its upper end with a steering wheel 46. The arm 40 may be connected with the depending arm 39 by a link 47 extending transversely of themachine to the side portion of the frame at which the vertical rock shaft 4:1.isl0cated, The aeroplane is equipped at the front with a propeller 48 which is driven by a suitable engine 49 and a Searchlight 50 is rovided intermediate preferably arranged centrally of the front end of the gas bag 4; V

The aeroplane may be made of any de-' sired'size' and it may be equipped with any carrying passengers and the like and while one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompany-- ing drawings the claims define the actual scope of the same.

The frame of the machine is preferably 3 same in either direction laterally of the ma- :ing from the guiding plane, an upright rock shaft having upper and lower arms, the up-\ per arm being connected with the said dechine, said means including an arm depend- .pending arm and a steering wheel having a shaft connected with the lower arm of the rock shaft.

2. An aeroplane of the class described including a topplane mounted in afixed position and provided with opposite gas pockets and a forwardly tapered longitudinally disposed guiding plane pivoted at its ends and extending rearwardly froni'the top plane, and operating mechanism connected with 'the guiding plane.

3. An'aeroplane of the class described ineluding a longitudinally disposed gas bag,

a top plane locatedabove the front end of the gas bag and extending transversely of' the aeroplane, side planes of substantially rectangular form extending from the machine -.at a point below the .gas bag, rear planes located at opposite sidesofthe gas bag, a tiltable tail plane located in rear of the gas bag,

a propeller, and guiding means. 4:. An aeroplane of the class described in cluding a longitudinally disposed gas bag, a top plane located above the front end of the gas bag and extending transversely of the aeroplane, side planes of substantially rectangular form extending from the machine at a point below the gas bag, rear planes located at opposite sides of the gas bag, a tiltable tail planelocated in rear of the gas bag, a propeller" located at the front of the machine and mounted below the gas and a guiding plane located above the and in rear of the top plane.

b gas bag In testnnony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOEL W. MILLICAN.

Witnesses S. H. WILDMAN, ROBT. CL'oUss. 

